THE DAY THAT WAS THE GROOVE AWARDS

The Groove Awards lived up to its billing of celebrating gospel talent in style. On Saturday (April 30), all the main players in the industry converged at the KICC in Nairobi to honour the best in gospel music.
At the event, Daddy Owen became the first artiste in Kenya’s history of music awards to hand over an award he won fairly to a fellow artiste, Juliani.
The singer, popularly known as the King of Kapungala, described Juliani as an artiste who has been in the game for long and is yet to be recognised.
Daddy Owen handed over the most coveted award of the night, Male Artiste of the Year, in the 6th annual Groove Awards ceremony.



This was Daddy Owen's fourth award in the evening after scooping three other awards for his collaborative single Saluti that features other acts like Esther Wahome, Emmy Kosgei and Kambua. The awards are Collabo of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year. Last year, Daddy Owen won in a record six categories.
The dedication from Daddy Owen was not the only win for Juliani. He also scooped the Hip Hop Song of the Year award for his hit Hello. The Female Artiste of the Year title went to a very surprised Alice Kamande.
This year’s Groove also brought to the limelight new voices and faces like Marvelous who won the New Artiste of the Year. The Eastern song of the Year award went to John Mbaka for Mivango Ya Amaaitha; Western Song of the Year - Linet Webukhulu for her song Vuyanzi; Rift Valley Song of the Year - Emily Chebet for her song Chesireret; Central Song of the Year - Tigana na Andu by Dennis Mutara and Nyanza Song Of The Year Award title was won by Carol Nyakwaka for the song Owinjore Gi Pako.




Other winners who were awarded for their fortitude include the legendary Mary Atieno Ominde who was awarded the Outstanding Contributor Award; Rose Muhando for the Skiza Ring Back Tone of the Year and Eunice Njeri took home the special award for Song Writer of the Year.
Other categories were DJ of the Year which went to DJ Sadiq who together with Alemba scooped the Reggae/Ragga Song of the Year for their musical collaboration titled Praise Him. BMF walked away with Group of the Year, Dr Eddie was named the Audio Producer of the Year while J Blessing was Video Producer of the Year.




Singer General Mannaseh Mathiang proved won the Artiste of the Year Southern Sudan title while Exodus scooped the Ugandan Artiste of the Year for the second year running. Paul Mwai won in the Album of the Year and Worship Song of the Year categories.




Other nominees who won awards include Saints (Dance Group of the Year), Marion Shako (Pwani Song Of Year), Syombua Wa Mwele of Musyi FM (Radio Presenter of the Year), Blessed Sisters (Artiste of the Year Rwanda) and Christina Shusho (Tanzanian Artiste of the Year).

PHOTOS/MICHAEL KHATELI

GROOVE BRINGS IT HARD AT NOMINEES UNVEILING

If the well organized Groove Nominees announcement on Tuesday at the Louse Leakey is anything to go by, I can't wait for the gala night on April 30 at the KICC.



Most times, during the announcements of award nominees the structure employed involves having members of the fourth estate and the nominees sitting at some fancy club drinking or in formal setting like at a presser similar to those held by the minister of education to release the list of top KCSE or KCPE students.
Groove Awards organisers took their time to think out a fun way of announcing this year nominees by staging a show that wss complete with a mock news broadcast that was pre-recorded.



R Kay's first born and only child Prince was the MC for the night, co hosting with artiste, Joyce Omondi.
Anyho, the list was unveiled and last year's big names were completely missing out and some bagging one or two nominations.



New comers like Man Igwe and Kevoyouth bagged nominations in the big boys league - the Male Artiste Of The year Category. The same applied to the female artiste where the perennial list included Esther Wahome, Kambua and Emmy Kosgei.
This could only mean that the industry is growing at a rate where the old guard new to catch up of get caught out.
The nominees all released their music between January 1 2010 and December 31 2010.



SMS CODE 1. MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
1a. Daddy Owen
1b. Jimmi Gait
1c. Juliani
1d. Kevohyout
1e. Man Ingwe
1f. Paul Mwai

2. FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
2a. Alice Kamande
2b. Anastacia Mukabwa
2c. Betty Bayo
2d. Hellenah Ken
2e. Eunice Njeri
2f. Marion Shako

3. GROUP OF THE YEAR
3a. Adawnage Band
3b. Alemba & Sadic
3c. BMF
3d. D-Serve
3e. Maximum Melodies
3f. Tetete

4. NEW ARTIST/ GROUP OF THE YEAR
4a. Andy Mburu
4b. DK
4c. Izzo
4d. Kiproh
4e. Marvelous
4f. MC Dice

5. SONG OF THE YEAR
5a. I live for you – BMF
5b. Kiatu Kivue – Anastacia Mukabwa
5c. Manyunyu – Jimmi Gait and Rufftone
5d. Saluti – Daddy Owen and Friends
5e. Siyabonga – Betty Bayo
5f. Tigana na adu – Dennis Mutara

6. WORSHIP SONG OF THE YEAR
6a. Ananijali – Andy Mburu
6b. I’m in the Race- Paul Mwai
6c. Haujanisahau – Lydia Joy Kaimuri
6d. Munyunyizi Wangu – Sarah K
6e. Nashukuru – Mercylinah
6f. Sitarudi Kuwa Vile – Hellenah Ken

7. ALBUM OF THE YEAR
7a. Determination – Kevohyout
7b. Manze ni God – Maximum Melodies
7c. Natamani – Eunice Njeri
7d. Racing Up – Paul Mwai
7e. Shukrani – Marion Shako
7f. Siyabonga - Betty Bayo

8. HIPHOP SONG OF THE YEAR
8a. ADIOS - Astar
8b. Alter Ego - XPO
8c. Dance – Bupe
8d. Hello – Juliani
8e. On and on – MC Dice
8f. Sunday Christian Remix – Izzo

9. AUDIO PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
9a. Bosire
9b. Dr. Eddie
9c. John Nyika
9d. John Wachira
9e. Sammy Gitonga
9f. Saint P

10. VIDEO PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
10a. Dr. Eddie
10b. J Blessing
10c. GNPI
10d. Lampstand
10e. Sakata
10f. Washamba

11. VIDEO OF THE YEAR
11a. Dance – Bupe
11b. Dream Again – Kanjii
11c. Hitho - Mr. T ft. Allan Aaron
11d. I Live for you - BMF
11e. Upendo Ule Ule – Alice Kamande
11f. Saluti – Daddy Owen



SMS CODE 12. COLLABO OF THE YEAR
12a. Avandu Vasunga – Hey Z & Key Z
12b. Hitho – Mr. T & Allan Aaron
12c. Kiatu Kivue – Anastacia Mukabwa Ft. Rose Muhando
12d. Manyunyu – Jimmi Gait Ft. Rufftone
12e. Nifungue – Alemba & Sadic Ft. Kaberere
12f. Saluti – Daddy Owen and Friends

13.RAGGA/REGGAE SONG OF THE YEAR
13a. Asante – Mr. Googz
13b. Criticize – Tapa Gyal
13c. Determination – Kevohyout
13d. Falling – Kiproh Ft. Rufftone
13e. No Stop – Lonesome & JB Son De Fada
13f. Praise Him - Alemba & Sadic

14.DANCE GROUP OF THE YEAR
14a. Alabaster
14b. C4C
14c. ICED
14d. Incense
14e. Saints
14f. Spartans



15. GOSPEL RADIO SHOW OF THE YEAR
15a. Activate - HOPE FM
15b. Gospel Sunday – MILELE FM
15c. Jam 316 – RADIO 316
15d. Shangilia – HOPE FM
15e. The Sound – CAPITAL FM
15f. Trinity connect – HOMEBOYZRADIO



16. GOSPEL TV SHOW OF THE YEAR
16a. Gospel garage – K24
16b. Crossover 101 – NTV
16c. Kubamba – CITIZEN TV
16d. Kuwa tofauti – FAMILY TV
16e. Off the hook – KTN
16f. Rauka – CITIZEN TV



17. RADIO PRESENTER OF THE YEAR
17a. Eva Muriri – MILELE FM
17b. DJ GG – HOMEBOYZ RADIO
17c. James Okumu - HOPE FM
17d. Justus Owaka – HOPE FM
17e. Tina Nzuki – RADIO 316
17f. Syombua wa Mwele – MUSYI FM



18. DJ OF THE YEAR
18a. DJ G.G
18b. DJ Johnnie Celeb
18c. DJ Krowbar
18d. DJ Mo
18e. DJ Sadiq
18f. DJ Sanch

19. RIFT VALLEY SONG OF THE YEAR
19a. Chesireret – Emily Chebet
19b. Inetgei – Lilian Rotich
19c. Imongu Jetuora - Elizabeth Jepchirchir
19d. Maimye – Stephen Misoi
19e. Mestowot – Jeff Cheruiyot
19f. Sigiriet – Joel Kimeto

20. EASTERN SONG OF THE YEAR
20a. Avinzani – Justus Ngemu
20b. Gethesemane – Easterneez
20c. Kwata Kawaya – Mbuvi
20d. Mivango Ya Amaitha – John Mbaka
20e. Ngagukiira Njesu – Caroline Kirima
20f. Ngeethiwa Vo - Lazaro muli

21. CENTRAL SONG OF THE YEAR
21a. Ciiraniro – Wakabura Joseph
21b. Kaba Kwiyaria – Ben Githae
21c. Muturire – Jane Muthoni
21d. Munduiriri – Betty Bayo
21e. Ndigiuga Ndudathimete – Loise Kim
21f. Tigana na Andu – Dennis Mutara

22. NYANZA SONG OF THE YEAR
22a. Batimayo – Douglas Otiso
22b. Jarwana Manowara – Esther Williams
22c. Ogosesenigwa Gusii - Kepha Onyancha
22d. Owinjore Gi Pako - Carol Nyakwaka
22e. Ngimana – Maureen Awour (Nyar Jerusalem)
22f. Ngimana Duto – Lilian Otieno

SMS CODE 23. PWANI SONG OF THE YEAR
23a. Adonai – Marion Shako
23b. Ameniita – Ambrose Kazungu
23c. Hakuna kama wewe - Friend Martin
23d. Kiatu Kivue – Anastacia Mukabwa
23e. Mghenyi waloli - Samuel Mwanjala
23f. Nakupenda Bwana – Ruth Njambi

24. WESTERN SONG OF THE YEAR
24a. Hulira Okhusia – Ev. Joseph Shisia
24b. Mwami Aletsa – Gloria Muliro
24c. Ndakhuyanza – Ilagosa wa Ilagosa
24d. Vuyanzi – Lynett Wephukulu
24e. Yesu Omuyeti Wabalekhwa – Naomi Nyongesa.
24f. Yesu Yangula – Man Ingwe

25. ARTIST OF THE YEAR (UGANDA)
25a. Exodus
25b. G-Way
25c. Judith Babirye
25d. Ken Mziki
25e. Morgan Isaac
25f. Wilson Bugembe



26. ARTIST OF THE YEAR (TANZANIA)
26a. Bahati Bukuku
26b. Bonnie Mwaitigi
26c. Christina Shusho
26d. Neema Mwaipopo
26e. Rose Muhando
26f. Upendo Nkone

27. ARTIST OF THE YEAR (RWANDA)
27a. Aime Umiwana
27b. Aline Gahongayire
27c. Blessed Sisters
27d. Dominic Nic
27e. Gaby Irene Kamanzi
27f. Nyamitari Patrick

28. ARTIST OF THE YEAR (SOUTHERN SUDAN)
28a. Gen. Manasseh Mathiang
28b. Lasuba
28c. Mary botol
28d. Star eagles
28e. Suraya
28f. Victoria

29. ARTIST OF THE YEAR (BURUNDI)
29a. Ange Channel Ngabire
29b. David Ndikumana
29c. Joy Nkundimana
29d. Fortrand Bigirimana
29e. Nicole Irakoze
29f. Willy Uwiteye

IT’S GROOVE AWARDS SEASON, AGAIN!

This year’s Groove Awards with Skiza will be held at the KICC on April 30. Unlike the previous years since inception, the annual gala event will be held in the evening from 6pm with a fully functional red carpet.
The live show will star to be shot from 7pm to 10pm.
Meanwhile, artistes are requested to send in their submissions before February 25. The nominees will be announced on March 29 at a nomination gala night after which the voting process will commence.